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Overcoming the Problems of Inconsistent International Migration data: A New Method Applied to Flows in Europe
[Surmonter les problèmes d’incohérences des données sur les migrations internationales: une nouvelle méthode appliquée aux flux en Europe]

Author

Listed:
  • Joop Beer

    (Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI))

  • James Raymer

    (University of Southampton)

  • Rob Erf

    (Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI))

  • Leo Wissen

    (University of Groningen)

Abstract

Due to differences in definitions and measurement methods, cross-country comparisons of international migration patterns are difficult and confusing. Emigration numbers reported by sending countries tend to differ from the corresponding immigration numbers reported by receiving countries. In this paper, a methodology is presented to achieve harmonised estimates of migration flows benchmarked to a specific definition of duration. This methodology accounts for both differences in definitions and the effects of measurement error due to, for example, under reporting and sampling fluctuations. More specifically, the differences between the two sets of reported data are overcome by estimating a set of adjustment factors for each country’s immigration and emigration data. The adjusted data take into account any special cases where the origin–destination patterns do not match the overall patterns. The new method for harmonising migration flows that we present is based on earlier efforts by Poulain (European Journal of Population, 9(4): 353–381 1993, Working Paper 12, joint ECE-Eurostat Work Session on Migration Statistics, Geneva, Switzerland 1999) and is illustrated for movements between 19 European countries from 2002 to 2007. The results represent a reliable and consistent set of international migration flows that can be used for understanding recent changes in migration patterns, as inputs into population projections and for developing evidence-based migration policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Joop Beer & James Raymer & Rob Erf & Leo Wissen, 2010. "Overcoming the Problems of Inconsistent International Migration data: A New Method Applied to Flows in Europe [Surmonter les problèmes d’incohérences des données sur les migrations internationales:," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 26(4), pages 459-481, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eurpop:v:26:y:2010:i:4:d:10.1007_s10680-010-9220-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s10680-010-9220-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Frans Willekens, 1999. "Modeling approaches to the indirect estimation of migration flows: From entropy to EM," Mathematical Population Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 7(3), pages 239-278.
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    Cited by:

    1. Clemens, Michael A., 2020. "The Emigration Life Cycle: How Development Shapes Emigration from Poor Countries," IZA Discussion Papers 13614, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Fenwick, Clare, 2022. "The devil is in the detail: measuring intra-EU labour migration," ROA Research Memorandum 001, Maastricht University, Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA).
    3. Kristi Anniste & Tiit Tammaru & Enel Pungas & Tiiu Paas, 2012. "Emigration After Eu Enlargement: Was There A Brain Drain Effect In The Case Of Estonia?," University of Tartu - Faculty of Economics and Business Administration Working Paper Series 87, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Tartu (Estonia).
    4. Christos Bagavos, 2022. "On the contribution of foreign-born populations to overall population change in Europe: Methodological insights and contemporary evidence for 31 European countries," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 46(7), pages 179-216.
    5. Philip Rees & Nicole Gaag & Joop Beer & Frank Heins, 2012. "European Regional Populations: Current Trends, Future Pathways, and Policy Options [Population des Régions Européennes: Tendances Actuelles, Développements Futurs et Options Politiques]," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 28(4), pages 385-416, November.
    6. Frans Willekens, 2018. "Towards causal forecasting of international migration," Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, Vienna Institute of Demography (VID) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, vol. 16(1), pages 199-218.
    7. Ahmad Wali Ahmad-Yar & Tuba Bircan, 2021. "Anatomy of a Misfit: International Migration Statistics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-22, April.
    8. Alexander Subbotin & Samin Aref, 2021. "Brain drain and brain gain in Russia: Analyzing international migration of researchers by discipline using Scopus bibliometric data 1996–2020," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(9), pages 7875-7900, September.
    9. James Raymer & Xujing Bai & Nan Liu, 2020. "The dynamic complexity of Australia’s immigration and emigration flows from 1981 to 2016," Journal of Population Research, Springer, vol. 37(3), pages 213-242, September.
    10. James Raymer & Joop Beer & Rob Erf, 2011. "Putting the Pieces of the Puzzle Together: Age and Sex-Specific Estimates of Migration amongst Countries in the EU/EFTA, 2002–2007," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 27(2), pages 185-215, May.
    11. Martin-Shields, Charles, 2017. "State fragility as a cause of forced displacement: identifying theoretical channels for empirical research," IDOS Discussion Papers 30/2017, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    12. Alma Vega & Noli Brazil, 2015. "A multistate life table approach to understanding return and reentry migration between Mexico and the United States during later life," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 33(43), pages 1211-1240.
    13. Fenwick, Clare, 2022. "The devil is in the detail: measuring intra-EU labour migration," Research Memorandum 003, Maastricht University, Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE).
    14. Cate Arie ten, 2014. "The Identification of Reporting Accuracies from Mirror Data," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 234(1), pages 70-84, February.
    15. Wiśniowski Arkadiusz & Bijak Jakub & Christiansen Solveig & Forster Jonathan J. & Keilman Nico & Raymer James & Smith Peter W.F., 2013. "Utilising Expert Opinion to Improve the Measurement of International Migration in Europe," Journal of Official Statistics, Sciendo, vol. 29(4), pages 583-607, December.
    16. Kristi Anniste & Tiit Tammaru & Enel Pungas & Tiiu Paas, 2012. "Dynamics of Educational Differences in Emigration from Estonia to the Old EU Member States," Norface Discussion Paper Series 2012017, Norface Research Programme on Migration, Department of Economics, University College London.
    17. Diletta Goglia & Laura Pollacci & Alina Sîrbu, 2023. "Dataset of Multi-Aspect Integrated Migration Indicators," Data, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-31, August.
    18. Willekens Frans, 2019. "Evidence-Based Monitoring of International Migration Flows in Europe," Journal of Official Statistics, Sciendo, vol. 35(1), pages 231-277, March.
    19. Jack DeWaard & Keuntae Kim & James Raymer, 2012. "Migration Systems in Europe: Evidence From Harmonized Flow Data," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 49(4), pages 1307-1333, November.
    20. Guy Abel, 2013. "Estimating global migration flow tables using place of birth data," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 28(18), pages 505-546.
    21. Drivas, Kyriakos & Economidou, Claire & Karamanis, Dimitrios & Sanders, Mark, 2020. "Mobility of highly skilled individuals and local innovation activity," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    22. Bruno Schoumaker & Louise Caron & Wanli Nie & Mireille Le Guen, 2022. "Multiple (il)legal pathways: The diversity of immigrants' legal trajectories in Belgium," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 47(10), pages 247-290.
    23. Jack DeWaard & James Raymer, 2012. "The temporal dynamics of international migration in Europe: Recent trends," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 26(21), pages 543-592.
    24. Lee Fiorio & Emilio Zagheni & Guy J. Abel & Johnathan Hill & Gabriel Pestre & Emmanuel Letouzé & Jixuan Cai, 2020. "Analyzing the effect of time in migration measurement using geo-referenced digital trace data," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2020-024, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.
    25. Agnieszka Fihel & Anna Janicka & Marek Okólski, 2023. "Predicting a Migration Transition in Poland and its Implications for Population Ageing," Post-Print hal-04488199, HAL.

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